McPherson loses opening match at Olympics

Posted: Fri 8:56 AM, Aug 19, 2016&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Fri 3:47 PM, Aug 19, 2016

Farida Azizova of Azerbaijan scored four points in the final :30 of her match with Paige McPherson of Sturgis to win their opening match in the 67KG class in the taekwondo competition at the Olympics in Rio. McPherson won the bronze at the 2012 games, but lost in the round of 16 this year.

McPherson took at 3-1 lead in the first round of her bout with a kick to the head of Azizova. That lead stood at 4-2 at the end of round two. McPherson expanded that lead to 5-2, but Azizova scored a three point spinning kick to tie the match late and then scored a single point with a kick with less than :10 to go to secure the win.

McPherson was later eliminated from medal contention when Azizova lost in the semifinals to Hyeri Oh of South Korea.